Vikings Reveal that the Team is Losing a High-Ranking Coach
Lately, all of the attention has been on Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Lost in the shuffle a touch has been what’s taking place more broadly within the coaching staff.
Already, the team has seen safeties coach Michael Hutchings take off due to a college opportunity. Defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Daronte Jones is generating interest to become a defensive coordinator. So, too, is the team going to lose Mike Pettine, a former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator. He has been the team’s assistant head coach since 2022 but will now be stepping into retirement.
Vikings Reveal Loss of Mike Pettine
Head coach Kevin O’Connell offered up the news in his press conference earlier in the day.
“Regarding our coaching staff,” Coach O’Connell explained, “I don’t really have any concrete updates or plans at this point.” Shortly thereafter, Coach O’Connell offered a concrete update: “I did want to make sure today, I highlight the career of Mike Pettine. Coach Pett is going to be retiring.” O’Connell then reflected on his history alongside Pettine, clarifying some of the background between the pair dating back several years.
Most recently, Pettine has been the assistant head coach, but he has also logged some work working with individual position groups. He’ll now be stepping away from the sideline at the age of 59.
When success arrives in the NFL, the vultures begin circling. What’s odd about these vultures is that they don’t lurk high above the dead teams but, rather, the ones that are very much alive. Put differently, the teams that are coming off brutal performance want to get a piece of a living, thriving team. Accordingly, the Vikings’ defensive staff is in the process of being hollowed out.
With Pettine, things are a bit different since he’s not flying away to a different team.
Looking into his background reveals how long his NFL journey has been. The team website with some details: “Mike Pettine (PETT-in) enters his fourth season with the Minnesota Vikings as the assistant head coach in 2025. He also served as the outside linebackers coach in 2024 after stepping in to coach the position during the 2023 season. He adds more than 30 years of overall coaching experience to Head Coach Kevin O’Connell’s staff, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks.”
Standing above his many stops — at least for those most interested in the NFL — are Pettine’s opportunities working as the DC for the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and the Green Bay Packers. He also got a shot at being the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
In all likelihood, the Vikings are going to move into 2026 with good coaching continuity.
At the top will be O’Connell, someone who had a disappointing 2025 but who remains a strong coach. Getting more out of his quarterback remains key.
Supporting O’Connell is Wes Phillips (the offensive coordinator) and Matt Daniels (the special teams coordinator). In particular, Coach Daniels has been impressive, coaxing excellence out of long snapper Andrew DePaola, kicker Will Reichard, punter Ryan Wright, and returner Myles Price.
The top story, though, remains the status of Brian Flores. If he returns, the Vikings’ defense is likely to be a top-ten crew yet again. If he departs, then the Vikings will encounter plenty of uncertainty moving through the coming months.
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